Tauck Travel (USA) released details of its 2026 small-ship cruising program, announcing two new itineraries: The Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea and Arctic Days & Northern Lights.
These voyages mark an expansion of Tauck’s maritime offerings in the North Pacific and Arctic waters, reflecting growing global interest in culturally immersive, small-ship expeditions.
The Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea
This 14-day voyage, commencing from US$24,990 per person (double occupancy, inclusive of air travel), begins ashore in Seoul, South Korea. Guests are lodged for 3 nights in the capital, with accommodations offered at the Fairmont Ambassador, Conrad, or Four Seasons Seoul. The itinerary includes guided visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Korean War Memorial Museum, and traditional Hanok dwellings, along with leisure time in local markets.
From Seoul, travelers proceed to Busan via high-speed rail, embarking Ponant’s Le Soléal, a 184-passenger vessel designed for refined expedition cruising. The ship sails eastward with calls in Sakaiminato, Hagi, Beppu, Uwajima, and Miyajima Island. Activities range from visits to samurai-era residences and castle ruins to geothermal hot spring experiences and traditional Japanese cultural demonstrations. In Hiroshima, passengers visit the Peace Memorial and Atomic Bomb Museum before continuing to Tamano, with optional excursions to Naoshima’s contemporary art installations and cycling routes through the town.
The voyage continues to Kobe with opportunities to explore the port city or travel inland to Kyoto. Disembarkation occurs in Osaka, followed by a concluding 2-night stay in Tokyo. The Japanese capital’s program includes visits to the Meiji Shrine and Edo Museum, ending with a farewell dinner and sumo exhibition.
Departures for Sakura Seas are scheduled as follows: two eastbound sailings (Seoul to Tokyo) on 10 and 25 April, and one westbound departure (Tokyo to Seoul) on April 19. All shore excursions, gratuities, onboard beverages, airport transfers, taxes, and fees are included in the fare.
Arctic Days & Northern Lights
Tauck’s Arctic addition—a 12-day itinerary priced from US$22,690 per person (double occupancy with air)—offers passage aboard Le Lapérouse, Ponant’s Explorer-class ship. Sailing from Tromsø, Norway, the route traces the Norwegian Arctic coastline, known for its austere beauty and cultural depth.
The journey is structured to provide optimal conditions for observing the Aurora Borealis. Along the way, passengers engage with Indigenous communities, visit heritage sites, and experience the stark, remote landscapes characteristic of the high north. The 2026 sailings of Arctic Days & Northern Lights are fully booked, with a waitlist now open.
Fleetwide Operations and Strategic Direction
In 2026, Tauck will operate 133 departures across 20 small ship itineraries, spanning Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Antarctica. The company's small ship program is currently registering record demand, with 2026 bookings tracking nearly 20% ahead of 2025, itself projected to be a record year.
This growth is aligned with Tauck’s long-standing "Small is Big" strategy, which favors limited-capacity vessels to provide a higher degree of access, personalization, and guest engagement. This approach extends beyond ocean voyages, influencing the design of Tauck’s land-based Small Group and Smaller Group tours and European river cruises, where reduced guest numbers allow for more spacious accommodations and enhanced onboard experiences.
Together, these offerings position Tauck as a leading operator in the field of small-scale, culturally attuned maritime and overland exploration.